Whether you’re heading off on a training camp or escaping the unpredictable British summer for a cycling trip somewhere reliably sunny. Taking your cycling adventures overseas is a great way to explore new places and get away from the everyday routine, without having to miss out on time in the saddle.
But getting ready for an active holiday versus a regular beach holiday can feel a bit overwhelming – especially if you’re going to be pushing yourself to do a bit more cycling or training than you’re used to. How much kit do you need to take? Should you rent a bike or take your old faithful with you? And, if you’re going to take your own bike – how on earth do you get it there in one piece? Our go-to guide for preparing for your first training camp gives you all the information you need so you can stress less and get ready to adventure more!
Getting ready for your first training camp
Rent a bike or transport your steed?
First things first, you need to decide whether to travel light and rent a bike once you arrive at your destination – or pack up your trusty steed and take it on the adventure with you. Part of this decision depends on where you’re going and if there’s a good bike rental facility nearby. Do your research to check out the local bike shops and rentals at your destination to make sure they’re going to have a bike available that will suit the riding you have planned. It’s worth tapping up your fellow adventure-lovers in our Stolen Goat Herd and VeloVixen Facebook groups here, as chances are there’ll be at least one person who’s visited the place you’re headed and can give some firsthand information. If you’re planning to rent a bike, ideally you want to try and find somewhere that allows you to reserve one before you arrive so you know what to expect (and you know they’ve definitely got your size). It’s also worth taking your own saddle (and some places will suggest bringing your own pedals too) for maximum comfort.
Renting is a great way to save on baggage costs (and airport faff) but it does mean riding a bike you’re unfamiliar with. And for some of us, there’s something nice about taking your bike on your adventures with you! Particularly if your trip is to help you train for a specific event, it might be worth taking your own bike so that you know you’re going to be comfortable and you’re also getting quality time on the bike (and in the riding position) that you’ll be racing in. Which leads us nicely on to our next tip…
Top tips for travelling with your bike
Okay decision made, the steed is coming with you on your adventure! But now you’ve got to figure out how to actually get it there. Navigating the world of bike boxes and airport logistics can feel a little bit daunting – but triathlete Tom Epton has shared some of his top tips for taking your bike away with you. Head over to his blog post to read more!
Training for a training camp
Wait, what? I’ve got to train… for a training camp!? Obviously you don’t need to be arriving in peak, race-ready form. But if you want to get the most out of your week or two training abroad, it’s a good idea to make sure you’ve got a solid base of fitness and you’re ready for the riding you’re planning to tackle while you’re out there. For example, if you’re heading to Mallorca and Sa Colobra is on your bucket list, it’s worth doing a bit of specific hill training to get yourself ready for the climb. Check out Josh Brandwene’s blog on getting stronger at riding up hills for some great tips to help you smash those ascents!
Likewise, if your training camp or cycling trip is going to involve some long days in the saddle you’ll want to make sure you’ve done a bit of endurance work in the build-up. This doesn’t need to be anything too excessive, but ticking off some solid Zone 2 endurance rides and spending a few hours in the saddle each weekend will help you to build up your fitness and your confidence so you’re ready to roll.
What kit to pack
Trying to pack for a training camp without cramming your entire wardrobe – sports kit and regular clothes – into your suitcase can be tricky. The amount of kit you’ll need to take depends on whether you’ll have laundry facilities at your destination. If you’re staying in a villa, for example, where you’ll be able to use a washing machine and hang stuff up to dry properly you can probably get away with packing a little lighter and washing kit as you go. But if you’re heading to a hotel (and you don’t fancy paying the expensive hotel laundry charges) you might need to take a bit of extra kit. A top tip here is to take a small amount of hand-washing laundry detergent so that, even if you haven’t got proper facilities, you can still freshen up your kit with a good old fashioned sink wash. A good rule of thumb to follow when you’re packing is to have two of everything such as bib shorts and jerseys, so that you can be wearing one set while the other is hanging up to dry.
Aside from the obvious things such as your helmet, bike shoes, and the core bits of cycling kit you might also want to consider taking:
- A cycling gilet – easy to store in your back pocket, a gilet will be a much welcomed layer if you encounter any long chilly descents (you’ll be amazed how much you can feel the wind chill if you’ve worked up a sweat making your way up to the top of a climb!)
- Lightweight arm warmers/sun shields – again, these can be a useful addition for early mornings and chilly descents. They can also be great for that extra bit of sun protection. Our Ibex arm warmers, for example, have UV protection and they’re designed to be fast-drying and quick-wicking in warm conditions so they’re a great option for long sunny days in the saddle.
- A lightweight base layer designed for warm weather riding – not only will it help to wick away sweat (because no one likes that ‘jersey stuck to your back’ feeling!) it’ll help to keep your kit that little bit fresher. Ideal if you’ll be relying on the aforementioned sink washing!
- More chamois crème than you think you’ll need – trust us on this one. Back to back days on the bike plus warm conditions can be prime saddle sore territory. Be liberal with the chamois crème and your hindquarters will thank you for it!
- Plenty of on-the-bike nutrition – chances are you’ll be planning to check out some of the local cycling café stops, but it’s always worth having your usual sports nutrition (gels, bars, flapjacks etc.) with you. You’ll be riding and training more than usual, meaning you’re more likely to be depleted, so keeping your fuel topped up will be key to enjoying every ride. Plus there’s nothing worse than finally making it to your planned stop and discovering that it’s closed. Emergency snacks are key to avoiding a bonk disaster!
Staying hydrated and training in the heat
If you’re heading somewhere hot, those first few days of your training camp can feel like a bit of a shock to the system depending on what the weather has been like back home. This is where knowing how to stay hydrated and how to manage your effort in the heat is key. Get it right, and you’ll have an awesome week of sunshine-filled training… but get it wrong and you’re letting yourself in for a week of suffering (and possible sun stroke).
Head over to our articles on staying hydrated and training in the heat so you can make sure you set yourself up for an epic trip!
How to get the most out of your adventure abroad
A training camp can be a great way to really boost your fitness, push your limits and come home feeling stronger than ever. But it can also be a pretty intense experience, so managing your effort, embracing rest and making sure you don’t forget to have some fun will be key to having a great experience.
Pace yourself
It’s Day 1 of training camp: your bike is ready, your kit is fresh and you’re excited. Let’s have a smash-fest! Hold that thought, our hyped up friend. It’s important to resist the temptation to go completely full gas on Day 1… You’ll regret it when you get to Day 3, your legs are trashed and you can’t head out on that bucket-list ride you had planned because you’re way too fatigued. Manage your effort so that you can finish the trip strong – you’ll have a way more enjoyable experience, plus you’ll have enough left in the tank to go and nab everyone’s Strava K/QOMs in the final few days!
Don’t forget to take a rest day
Building on our previous point, it’s also a good idea to schedule in a rest day – or at least an “easy” day somewhere in the middle of your trip. Rest is when your body has the chance to absorb all the gains you’ve been making and repair stronger, so don’t neglect it otherwise you’ll run out of steam. Embrace the faux-pro life and make sure you give yourself time to chill out between training sessions. Those post-ride naps by the pool with a glass of something iced to hand will soon become a non-negotiable in your daily routine.
Have some fun
Training camps can get all a bit serious… even if you’ve got some seriously big goals you want to achieve, ultimately we all train and race for fun – so don’t forget to have some! Ride out to the best ice cream shop in town and order the biggest sundae on the menu. Get some silly inflatables and have a race in the pool (hint: those big unicorns are cool, but they’re not massively hydrodynamic). Spend some time off the bike and check out the local towns and nightlife. Balance training with relaxing and you’ll return home fit, strong, happy and motivated to crack on with the following weeks on your training plan.
Enjoy those overseas adventures, Herd! We love seeing your adventures and getting to do a bit of virtual tourism with you, so make sure you tag us in your photos.